La Gélé Road To the east of La Gélé road a track leads up just north of a vinery towards the back of La Grande Mare Golf Course. Here are two and a half fields which are leased by La Société for their value as wet meadows. When these were taken on in 2004, they had been somewhat neglected for some years. The two large fields had neither been grazed nor cut for some time and were very overgrown. The meadows are also very wet, and liable to inundation in some parts during the winter (see pictures). With some careful management, they are showing their worth, containing four species of orchids, many rare rushes, sedges and grasses, and many other species of flowering plants, such as Marsh Bedstraw, Marsh Thistle, Celery-leaved Crowfoot, Marsh Pennywort and Watercress. The numbers will hopefully increase with some control of Common Reed and Hemlock Water Dropwort being necessary to retain the important wet meadow features of the fields. Wading birds such as snipe frequent the fields in winter. Douits run through the property, thus increasing the diversity of species, and providing habitats for various invertebrates. |
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The Reserve in winter |
Water Cress Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum |
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| Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus, scarce in
Guernsey |
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre |
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Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle vulgaris |
Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica |
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Celery-leaved Crowfoot Ranunculus scleratus |
Candie Gardens, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1UG, Channel Islands.
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